Fewer adults properly wash their hands than two years ago, according to the Soap and Detergent Association's annual study. Proper hand scrubbing is considered the most effective method of disease prevention, and using a squirt of hand sanitizer after thoroughly washing hands is considered the best combination for avoiding the germies. But even as scary as knowing that many adults don't wash their hands properly is the knowledge that kids are watching those hand-washing habits, and will most likely follow the same patterns.


According to the study, here is the percent of people who do not wash their hands

After using the bathroom:
2008: 15 percent
2006: 8 percent

After sneezing:
2008: 39 percent
2006: 36 percent

Before eating:
2008: 35 percent
2006: 31 percent